*A note about the blog: my first website was shes-krafty.com where I kept an online diary called "giving good blog". I started it in 2003. Since then there have been changes in hosts, formatting, and url and in some cases the posts didn't transition well. But by all means, click through the stacks. Life moves pretty fast.

Sacha Baumann is an artist and designer living and working in Los Angeles.

Sacha Baumann is an artist and designer living and working in Los Angeles.

Sep 4

Sep 4 turning uncomforatble to comfortable

A hot, still warehouse and a general summer time business malaise meant I only went to the studio last month if I had to. The thing is even though I mostly stayed at home, I still wanted to make stuff, but there are zero art supplies at the loft, (which it makes up for in 100% air conditioning). On a Friday afternoon I grabbed the New York Times (Friday-Sunday gets delivered, so old fashioned) and decided I would make something from the slim Arts II section, sans glue or scissors. This may be a regular creative practice. Puzzle piece practice.

Newspapers have long offered inspiration for manipulation and creation. My space is stacked with clippings and tears and old projects made entirely from thin, yellowing newsprint.

When Jason and I were still running Swirl Smell Slurp I'd buy the Thursday edition and do a "Rewriting the Review," of Eric Asimov's wine column, concentrating for too many hours to get the right combination of words (and I enjoyed major thrills when he responded nearly weekly on Twitter.)

It's still hot, I still don't want to spend much time at the warehouse, but the creative urge is tilting the scale towards toughing it out. And, I just rearranged my space in the studio, so it's feeling fresh and much more feng shui. After today's laser cutting job I may just stay as the day cools and get making. With a beer...that would be so good.